Hard drive performance

Humbaba · 10-04-2005, 05:28 PM

Ok, here's an addition to this thread and a question all rolled into one.

I have a fileserver in my home network, running RH9, that has two identical WD 200G HDs.

/dev/hda reports as this:

Timing buffered disk reads: 64 MB in 1.85 seconds = 34.59 MB/sec

/dev/hdb, however, reports as this:

Timing buffered disk reads: read() failed: Input/output error

I've tried this with hdb mounted, and with -c and -d turned on and off. I cannot unmount hdb; it claims that /dev/hdb is busy. I've still got a few more tricks to try, but I didn't see any mention of a problem like this in this forum; if anyone has seen this before, let me know.

Perry

Bruce Hill · 10-04-2005, 10:20 PM

Perry,

Welcome to LQ!

You should start your own thread for this issue. First, this thread is for
reporting hard drive performance, and not dealing with problems.
Second, your thread belongs in the Hardware Forum, and as such will
get more exposure because it's there, and it's new. And you should
also list your distribution, kernel version, etc. You can look at either
Eric Raymond's or XavierP's articles to get more information about
making a proper post.

bmfan · 10-11-2005, 08:54 PM

dev/hda:
Timing buffered disk reads: 174 MB in 3.03 seconds = 57.46 MB/sec

Crito · 05-03-2006, 02:17 AM

I'm using a Seagate Barracuda ATA/133 HDD hooked up to an Ultra DMA IDE controller integrated into the mobo's VIA 8237 southbridge under Fedora Core 5:

Code:

[root@blackhole hda]# hdparm -Tt /dev/hda

/dev/hda:
 Timing cached reads:   2396 MB in  2.00 seconds = 1198.02 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads:  152 MB in  3.02 seconds =  50.28 MB/sec
[root@blackhole hda]# cat /proc/ide/drivers
ide-disk version 1.18
ide-cdrom version 4.61
ide-floppy version 0.99.newide
[root@blackhole hda]# cat /proc/ide/hda/model
ST3160023A
[root@blackhole hda]#

Crito · 05-03-2006, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by predator.hawk

Timing buffer-cache reads: 2224 MB in 2.00 seconds = 1112.00 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 158 MB in 3.02 seconds = 52.32 MB/sec

~predatorfreak

edit: almost forgot, thats a Seagate Barracuda 7,200 RPM 8MB Cache 120GB SATA on a VIA K8T800 SATA controller.

Kind of interesting that the SATA version isn't any faster than the PATA one. My Barracuda is also 7,200 rpm and 8mb but it's a 160 gig model, BTW.

Bruce Hill · 05-03-2006, 01:49 PM

The SATA support for VIA chipsets in the kernel isn't too good yet.

cooljimwhy · 05-15-2006, 11:41 AM

I tried searching around and this thread seemed good enough, but if it's a repost, my apologies.

I run hdparm and here's what I get:

Code:

hdparm -Tt /dev/hda1

/dev/hda1:
Segmentation fault

I know it means there is physical damage to the HDD itself, probabily bad sectors, but is there any bash scripts I could run to really give the HDD a test (like never-ending kernel compiling to test cpu reliability)?

Thanks a bunch,
Jim

Bruce Hill · 05-15-2006, 06:43 PM

A guy called here because "he couldn't get on the internet." When I asked him to launch a web browser, he said, "You're gonna have to help me out with that one, buddy." Actually, he was quite well connected to the internet, but his Windoze system had 7 trojans, and a virus had infected every .exe file on his system. So Internut Exploder couldn't work properly (can it ever?). Further, his hard drive was well on the way to dying...

So I installed a new hard drive in his computer, and since he didn't know what he was doing with Windoze anyway, he now has a dual boot with Slackware and Windoze, only commented Windoze out of LiLO to see if he could use Slackware.

His comment: "I like that system of yours. Man, it really zings right along!"

Code:

root@matthews:/home/dave# hdparm /dev/hda

/dev/hda:
 multcount    =  0 (off)
 IO_support   =  0 (default 16-bit)
 unmaskirq    =  0 (off)
 using_dma    =  1 (on)
 keepsettings =  0 (off)
 readonly     =  0 (off)
 readahead    = 256 (on)
 geometry     = 16383/255/63, sectors = 156301488, start = 0

root@matthews:/home/dave# hdparm -iI /dev/hda

/dev/hda:

 Model=ST3802110A, FwRev=3.AAE, SerialNo=4LR0KSXG
 Config={ HardSect NotMFM HdSw>15uSec Fixed DTR>10Mbs RotSpdTol>.5% }
 RawCHS=16383/16/63, TrkSize=0, SectSize=0, ECCbytes=4
 BuffType=unknown, BuffSize=2048kB, MaxMultSect=16, MultSect=off
 CurCHS=4047/16/255, CurSects=16511760, LBA=yes, LBAsects=156301488
 IORDY=on/off, tPIO={min:240,w/IORDY:120}, tDMA={min:120,rec:120}
 PIO modes:  pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4
 DMA modes:  mdma0 mdma1 mdma2
 UDMA modes: udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 udma4 *udma5
 AdvancedPM=no WriteCache=enabled
 Drive conforms to: device does not report version:

 * signifies the current active mode


ATA device, with non-removable media
        Model Number:       ST3802110A
        Serial Number:      <munged>
        Firmware Revision:  3.AAE
Standards:
        Supported: 7 6 5 4
        Likely used: 7
Configuration:
        Logical         max     current
        cylinders       16383   64761
        heads           16      1
        sectors/track   63      255
        --
        CHS current addressable sectors:   16514055
        LBA    user addressable sectors:  156301488
        LBA48  user addressable sectors:  156301488
        device size with M = 1024*1024:       76319 MBytes
        device size with M = 1000*1000:       80026 MBytes (80 GB)
Capabilities:
        LBA, IORDY(can be disabled)
        Queue depth: 1
        Standby timer values: spec'd by Standard, no device specific minimum
        R/W multiple sector transfer: Max = 16  Current = ?
        Recommended acoustic management value: 208, current value: 0
        DMA: mdma0 mdma1 mdma2 udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 udma4 *udma5
             Cycle time: min=120ns recommended=120ns
        PIO: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4
             Cycle time: no flow control=240ns  IORDY flow control=120ns
Commands/features:
        Enabled Supported:
           *    READ BUFFER cmd
           *    WRITE BUFFER cmd
           *    Host Protected Area feature set
           *    Look-ahead
           *    Write cache
           *    Power Management feature set
                Security Mode feature set
           *    SMART feature set
           *    FLUSH CACHE EXT command
           *    Mandatory FLUSH CACHE command
           *    Device Configuration Overlay feature set
           *    48-bit Address feature set
                SET MAX security extension
           *    DOWNLOAD MICROCODE cmd
           *    General Purpose Logging feature set
           *    SMART self-test
           *    SMART error logging
Security:
        Master password revision code = 65534
                supported
        not     enabled
        not     locked
        not     frozen
        not     expired: security count
        not     supported: enhanced erase
HW reset results:
        CBLID- above Vih
        Device num = 0 determined by the jumper
Checksum: correct
root@matthews:/home/dave# hdparm -tT /dev/hda

/dev/hda:
 Timing cached reads:   3092 MB in  2.00 seconds = 1547.87 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads:  216 MB in  3.02 seconds =  71.45 MB/sec
root@matthews:/home/dave# hdparm -tT /dev/hda

/dev/hda:
 Timing cached reads:   3040 MB in  2.00 seconds = 1520.99 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads:  216 MB in  3.02 seconds =  71.47 MB/sec

That drive is a Seagate ST3802110A, 80GB, Ultra ATA/100, 7200RPM, 2MB cache.

Though I prefer AMD processors, the fact is that Linux kernel support for this Intel IDE bus is better than for my VIA K8T800 IDE or VIA VT6420 SATA RAID Controller on my Asus K8V-X board in my workstation.

Bruce Hill · 05-15-2006, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooljimwhy

I know it means there is physical damage to the HDD itself, probabily bad sectors, but is there any bash scripts I could run to really give the HDD a test (like never-ending kernel compiling to test cpu reliability)?

Which filesystem are you using on hda1? Issue and read "man fsck" for details.

If you need further help, you'd be better off starting a new thread in the Hardware forum.

weibullguy · 05-15-2006, 08:22 PM

Quote:

/dev/hda:
Timing cached reads: 564 MB in 2.01 seconds = 279.94 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 62 MB in 3.03 seconds = 20.46 MB/sec

/dev/hda is a 30GB Western Digital WD300BB-00AUA1.

Quote:

/dev/hdb:
Timing cached reads: 560 MB in 2.01 seconds = 278.37 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 62 MB in 3.06 seconds = 20.28 MB/sec

/dev/hdb is a 40GB Western Digital WD400BB-53AUA1.

Quote:

/dev/hdd:
Timing cached reads: 556 MB in 2.01 seconds = 277.21 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 60 MB in 3.03 seconds = 19.82 MB/sec

/dev/hdd is a 20GB Samsung SV2044D.

SaxiDawg · 05-24-2006, 04:08 PM

Seagate 7200 RPM SATA ICH5 controller HP DL140

2.87MB/s.

With tunning settings -c3 -m16 -u1 -X66 I can get to 5-6MB/s, seems pathetically slow. Drive should be capable of 30-40mb/s in windows.

Bruce Hill · 05-24-2006, 04:37 PM

SaxiDawg,

Welcome to LQ!

The drive I posted above getting 71.45 MB/sec is a Seagate 7200 RPM 2MB cache drive on an Intel ICH5 controller. You must have something seriously wrong in your kernel. I'm on the road away from that box right now, but if you'll start your own thread, you should get some help. Send me a notice of your thread and I'll check it out.

SaxiDawg · 05-24-2006, 11:36 PM

I expect at LEAST 40MB/s.
But I think I found my problem, it seems there is an Intel PIIX Sata support burried under SCSI / Low level drivers that I did not notice. I just avoided the scsi drivers as there were not any. Rebuilding now, will post if this makes a difference, if I can enable DMA I believe it will make a big difference. It is fairly moot point as I am switching the drives for Raptors anyway. But I am using this setup for testing for a few days and it is more curiosity.

:EDIT:

Well it appears enabling that option Intel PIIX Sata under SCSI:Low Level Drivers did not solve the problem. Where can I find out what is required to enable full support for ICH5. PS: Thanks for the welcome aboard. Linux is not my strong point since I ussually use BSD.

mekump · 05-31-2006, 12:02 PM

hdparm -t /dev/hda

/dev/hda:
Timing buffered disk reads: 14 MB in 3.44 seconds = 4.07 MB/sec

Seagate Model ST340810A

dalek · 05-31-2006, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mekump

hdparm -t /dev/hda

/dev/hda:
Timing buffered disk reads: 14 MB in 3.44 seconds = 4.07 MB/sec

Seagate Model ST340810A

Well, I got a few that are close to that speed. It may be a MB or so faster. Use those for folding. They don't use the drive much anyway.

What kind of CPU does that thing have? Just curious where the bottle neck is on that rig.